Jean Rose Beamon
Jean Rose Beamon (affectionately referred to as “Nana’) was born on November 17, 1935 in the Province of Colon, Republic of Panama to Ruby Vickers and Sylvester Clayton. As a young woman, Jean worked at the Albrook Field, United States Air Force Base in the Canal Zone, where she met and later married Airman Third Class, Dansby William Beamon. Upon Dansby’s discharge in 1957, the couple left to begin a new life together in the United States. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio, their home for 64 years where they raised two children born to their union, Ricardo and Shanuah.
Jean, like so many other immigrants, embraced the opportunities offered in America to improve her life and the life of her family for generations to come. She valued not only the ability to work hard and accumulate assets, but the ability to obtain an education. She was passionate about education and instilled in her children a belief in its transformative power. She led by example, enrolling in nursing school, all the while working with Dansby to raise their children. At times she worked double shifts in order to save for her children’s college education. Her family celebrated her success when in June 1974 she graduated from Cuyahoga Community College with an associate degree in Nursing. Jean always spoke with pride of her children’s accomplishments but was self-effacing about her own. Peers recognized her as a thoughtful and compassionate caregiver, and on May 12, 1982, in recognition of her distinguished career, long time employer Mt. Sinai Medical Center conferred upon her The Sue Rubinstein Award for Nursing Excellence in Direct Patient Care. Jean retired from a long and illustrious career in June 1996.
In retirement Jean remained active in church and various civic activities, including tutoring youngsters for a time at John F. Kennedy High School. Later in life she indulged her favorite passion: politics and social justice issues. A raucous political debate was her hobby of choice.
Jean was strong willed and spoke from the heart, offering guidance and wisdom to all. She often thought of others before herself. Deeply rooted in family, Jean made reaching out a priority even for short reminders that she was thinking of family. She delighted in spending her time conversing or being surrounded with people.
After a sudden illness, Jean was called home to be with the Lord on January 9, 2021 where she will join, among others, her beloved son Ricardo Eugenio Beamon, whom she adored and her husband Dansby William Beamon who left this life in 2015. She is remembered as a loving, fiery woman who valued God, family, and education. She leaves to celebrate her life her daughter and son-in law, Shanuah Beamon and Michael Chinn, her siblings, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends.